Dakntitg last



Oct. 12 1926.

A. ANTHONY DARNING LAST Filed July 5. 1924 Wome I Jig ATE? OFFICE.

ALICE. ANTHONY, F STEELING, ILLINOIS.

IDARNING LAST.

Application filed {July 3,

l /ly invention relates to lasts or mending forms adapted to facilitate the darningof hosiery, and has for its object the provlsion of a device of such class which shall be of is greater usefulness and adaptability for service than any hitherto known. The darnine; forms heretofore most largely used are a so as l are aware, of a relatively thick anc distinctly rounded or bulbous form, in some cases slightly flattened, but in general approximately more or less closely a globular shape. The curvature of the a cc of these darning forms is there-- fore 0'; such short radius that a darnino; needle cannot readily be woven in and out making a darn across a rent of any considerable ice, and th short, thick, rounded shape of such a form renders it difficult to handle and hold in place, unless it is prowith a handle, which renders it less 1 ale and less easily adjustable in the "cover, unless of unusual and in- '1 nt size, an approximately globular last will readily pass through a size, and it is therefore imacticable as an aid in making a repair of h a hole. ln some cases forms having l a leg portion and a foot portion have T. proposed, but such forms are altogether ient and unwieldly for practical use t care must be exercised in slipping g over such a form to avoid eng the holes because of the bend at the in addition to woicn adjustment of slot-hing to different positions on the u cannot be made.

"h the purpose in view of providing a whch shall overcome the objections toned, l have designed and invented ovel darning last hereinafter described ii, the essential elements of my in .4011 being more particularly pointed out in he appended claims. 1 in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a full size view of a single size 9 last; Fig. is an end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a side view on a smaller scale of a sock in which a last (indicated in dotted lines) has 192a Serial 1%. 723,868.

been inserted, the last being arranged with the uppermost longitudinal edge disposed along the center line of the sole portion of the sock; Fig. 4 is a similar View, but with the last arranged with one side face against the sole of the sock; Fig. 5 is a View showing the sole of the sock stretched over the side face of a last; and Figs. 6 and 7 are views of a long stocking with an inserted last in the leg portion of the stocking for repairing a hole at the knee, and for darning a runnei, respectively.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures of the drawing.

My improved darning last is preferably formed of a hard or semi-hard Wood, such as birch, with the grain running lengthwise of the device, and is best polished to a smooth finish. Any hard light material or composition, however, as hard rubber, celluloid, aluminum, hollow enameled ware, glass, etc. may be used. I contemplate supplying my darning forms in complete sets of lasts of different sizes, numbered to indicate corresponding stocking sizes. How: ever, a single last may be supplied, corresponding to the size of hosiery worn by the purchaser, or a set consisting of a limited number of selected sizes, as, by way of a typical example, one mens size last between Nos. 9 and 11, one ladies size, between 8 and 10, one childrens size, between 6 and 9, and one infants size between 4; and 6. Whatever their sizes the lasts are relatively broad and thin, approximately the shape of the sole of a sock of corresponding size, with rounded ends. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown in full size a No. 9 last having the dimensions which I have found most suitable for the purpose, although the proportions may be varied somewhat and the dimensions there indicated are stated only by way of GliQlHPllilCEltlOIl of the form which I regard as most desirable. As there illustrated, the thickness of the last along the center portion of its body is slightly less than one-fourth of its width and slightly more than one-tenth its length. The last there ore has opposite side faces which aret but slightly curved, as compared with those of thick and more or less globular forms of darning lasts of the prior art known to me, these faces tapering to a thickness of about ore-s xteenth of an inch at its dge. which rounded. In CI'OSSrSQCtlOII the curvature of the side faces is arc uate, as shown in Fig. 2, the curvature of the side surfaces being. carried. around the end portions of the last, as indicated in Fig 1. In longitudinal section, as' will be obvious from Figure 1, the intermediate portions of opposite side faces are not curved, or convexed to the same degree as the ends-of said faces to provide for substantially flat surfaces, as viewed inlongitudinal section' The longitudinal and transverse cross sections of the last may perhaps be more accurately defined as being substantially ellipti'c lanceolate because of the thin peripheral edge of the last. While the last isperhaps not strictly geometrically elliptical. in longitudinal section, it issub stantially so, and I desire it understood that my claims defining the cross sectional shape of the last are to be construed as'covering a truegeometrical' elliptical cross section, an

elliptic-lanceolate' cross section as well as all variations thereof which fall within the scope of my claims.

A's beforeindicated, the broader end of the last" may be termed the toe end, and the narrower' the heel end of the last. Conforming, as it'does, to the shape of the stocking foot, a last ofappropriate size will therefore fit the stocking with a uniform stretchofthe material when inserted ther in. The; last may be' arranged within the stocking either as'shown in Fig. 3 or in Fig.

4, or at any'intermediate position which will brin'ga rentiinto' the, most convenient position to make arepair." Ordinarily this position will be onein which the hole to be darned will, lie. on the face of" the last and conveniently near its, edge, as shown at a and?) in Fig; 3 ,0, (land e in Fig. 5. Preferably the larger holes are darned first, and the stocking adjusted on the last as necessary; Preferably, also, the large end'is used indarning large holes as this affords more space wherein to weave the thread and avoids tight weave of the work when finished, and thus provides for laundry shrinkage. With a last of appropriate size, all the holes" are displayed and the foot of'the stocking is slightly, but uniformly stretched throughout its. entire extent over a nearly flat surface, curvedjust enough to" enable a needle to' be employed most advantageously. All of the thin places will be readily discovered and continuous darning over a group of many small holes, such as often appear in fine hosiery will be facilitated. With my novel form of last, it has been found pracicable to restore the entire toe or the entire heel of a sock and form it of the same size and shape as the article originally possessed. With a darning form of spherical, or eggshaped, or somewhat flattened bulbous form, such manipulation is impossible, and the soclris almost inevitably stretched to a considerable and undesirable-degree adjacent the margin only of the rent. The inter-laced cross stitches, which. constitute the darn, moreover, must be laid over a convex surface having considerable curvature, -and the darn is therefore more or lesscupped, and does notlie as smooth-and present as neat an appearance as a repair made on the relatively slightly curved face of my novel darning last.-

My'last is also peculiarly desirable for cl'arningwhat'are known as 'runnersfi which often" appear in the leg portions of long stockings: These are due to the'breaking of a thread which permits a longitudinal line of" stitches of the'knitting to become disengaged and display a conspicuous line of small openings. The extended, slightly rounded side'face ofmy darning'last isadmiraibly' adapted to facilitate arepair of such a defect, when the last is arranged withinthe stocking leg asshown in Figs. 6

and 7 and the opposite ends of the stocking are held=tightlytogether on the under side ofthe last along with the underlying portion of the stocking, thus providing an equal and: uniform stretch on top. If desired the ends of the stockingmay be tied' in a loose knot, or for menssocks a safety in may be applied to secure the ends toget er underheath the last.

The last may be placed in the stocking with either-the larger "end--the toe of the last/ in" the toe of the stocking, or the smaller end; as may best suit different sizes ofstockings, various positions of rips to be mended, etc;, or it may be arranged at any angle within the stocking which may suit the convenience of the worker. In applying the last it will be foundconvenient to hold it fiat and placed against the body, using both handsto slip the stocking on. With the last within the stocking lengthwise the stocking may he slipped sideways or-lengthwise to adjustthe holes to its face, and the last removed only to changeits position end for end. The difference in size of the ends of the'last' presents the advantage that a single last maybe used to repair hosiery of different sizes, or toprovide a variationv in the degree of stretch of the fabric on the last. The shapeof the last is such-that it may be held and used in many and varied positions, which renders its use less tiresome than that of any darning last heretofore known.

1. A substantially stiff darning last of substantially oval outline, said last being substantially elliptical in transverse cross section and being or" appropriate size to fill a corresponding stocking foot.

2. A substantially stiff darning last of elongated substantially oval outline, said last being substantially elliptical in transverse and lonqitudinal sections, and being" of appropriate size to fill a corresponding stocking foot.

3. A relatively flat rigid darning last of 10 elongated substantially oval outline having opposite slightly curved faces tapering towards a thin rounded edge at its periphery, and being of appro riate size to fill a corresponding stocking 'oot.

ALICE ANTHONY. 

